Messi: 'I thought it would be the last time I'd touch the ball for a long time.' Barcelona star reveals fears over long-term knee injury

Lionel Messi will sit out Barcelona's next two training sessions after suffering a painful knee injury against Benfica, but he has revealed the knock is healing far quicker than expected.

Messi has 84 goals this calendar year - just one behind Gerd Muller's 1972 record of 85 - and Barcelona will need him on Sunday having won only one of their last 10 visits to Betis' Benito Villarmarin stadium.

The Argentine has a bruised bone in his left knee after a collision with goalkeeper Artur and will stay in the gym while his team-mates prepare for Sunday's game against Betis.

Stricken: Lionel Messi was injured after coming off the bench against Benfica

Record: The injury to Messi has put his attempts to beat Gerd Muller's 40-year calendar year goalscoring record in doubt

Despair: Both Messi and the Barcelona trainers knew something was wrong as soon as the player went down

FOUR GAMES TO GRAB THE RECORD

December 9 - Real Betis (A)

December 12 - Cordoba (A) Copa del Rey last 16, first leg

December 16 - Atletico Madrid (H)

December 22 - Valladolid (A)

Speaking on Thursday at the launch of a new advert for Turkish Airlines in which he stars alongside NBA star Kobe Bryant, Messi said: 'I was in pain after the knock, so I thought it was really bad. Luckily, it was just that, a knock.

'I’m fine, better than yesterday already. I don’t know if I’ll be ready for Sunday’s game, will depend on evolution.

'What happened yesterday, can happen on training too. Every time you’re out on the pitch, there’s a risk to get injured. The truth is I did not think about
anything because all I could feel was the pain. But in a moment I
thought the worst. When it was shown it was not a severe injury I was
calmer.

'I sincerely thought it was the last ball I would be touching for a long time because of the pain. I tried to go ahead and shoot but I didn't have the strength.

'I am not obsessed with breaking records. It will be nice because (Muller's record) has stood for so long and if I break it then i hope my record stands for as long.'

Club doctor Richard Pruna will decide, along with the player and his coach Tito Vilanova, if he can
train normally on Saturday and then travel to Seville for Sunday night's
match with fourth placed Betis.

The Nou Camp were calling for Messi
just before the half time whistle of last night's draw with Benfica and
Villanova gave in to their demands early in the second half only for
the No 10 to go down holding the back of his knee five minutes from
time.